Kohima, September 27 (MExN): The Naga Club (NC) has requested the Kohima Village Council (KVC), ‘the traditional land owner of Kohima,’ to restore the Naga Club Building and its plot near Old Secretariat Complex, Kohima, to the Club.
In a letter dated September 14, 2022, the NC stated that the building, which has been a subject of controversy after its present occupants, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) were asked to vacate the premises, “has undergone the severest of depreciation and stand dilapidated without proper amenities, projecting our Naga people particularly the Naga Club and all that it represents, in a very poor light.”
“It is therefore imperative and inevitable to demolish the existing building in its entirety and build a totally new building, well-equipped with facilities providing all the modern amenities for the welfare of all the Naga communities,” it said, while adding that the NC Executive Council in its meeting held on June 1, 2022, at Kohima had unanimously decided to begin the construction of the building by September 1, 2022.
According to the letter, it was under the aforementioned premises that NSF was requested to vacate the building in toto on or before August 27, 2022, so as to enable reconstruction of the building.
However, it said that NSF “has not paid any heed to our request, reminders and the deliberations in the informal meeting with them held on September 7, 2022.” It also claimed that NSF, despite the Club’s repeated attempt to have a meeting, “would not have any official meeting with us since 2018, and all our request letters to have meeting with them have been ignored.”
NC said that NSF has not only failed to vacate the building to allow reconstruction of the building, while alleging NSF of “hidden motives to undermine and harm the facts of history.”
Among others, it said NSF, “attempted to steal the credit from the founders of the Naga Club and give it to the Europe returnees of the Naga Labor Corps in the formation of the Naga Club in 1918,” in their press release on October 19, 2018 and a public statement on July 24, 2022. During an ‘informal meeting’ with the Naga Club on September 9, 2022, NSF reportedly stated that it would stand by their earlier statement in the referred press release.
“It must be stated here for the record and for posterity that the Naga Club was formed by educated staffs of the DC’s Office, Kohima who emulated the Officers Club of the British Officers then. It had no connection with the Naga Labor Corps whatsoever and the fact that Rheichalie Pienyü, an educated staff of the DC Kohima who served as the President, Secretary and Treasurer for 24 years from January 7, 1918 till 1942 is a testament to the fact that no Europe returnee took the initiative. The baseless claim of the NSF is a total contradiction to the Naga Club history and absolute contrary to the factual evidences therefore is a futile attempt to create confusion and take the credit from the founders of the Naga Club,” it added.
“In the same meeting the President and Vice-President of NSF also reiterated their earlier Public Statement of July 24, 2022, which is quoted for your reference: ‘how could it (NSF) pay rent to an organization that was formed only in 2017/18’ and admitted that they will stand by it. This statement portrays not only ignorance of the NSF but also impertinence that defies all acceptable norms and behavior of the Naga people, who are known for honoring their elders with utmost respect and reverence,” NC stated in the letter.
In view of such and other similar farcical statements, NC was compelled to issue response for the Naga people, especially the younger generation to understand the factual history, factual evidences and the stand of NC in the right perspective.
Further, NC also alleged “Illegal/Unauthorized Commercialization of the Naga Club Building by NSF.”
In this connection, it said, NC Building prior to the World War II was situated below the Mission Compound, Kohima which was used as a Morung as well as free-of-all-cost Guest House with cooking facilities for travelers coming from remote villages. However, during WWII the NC Building below the Mission Compound was completely destroyed and the NC Building in its current location near Old Secretariat Complex Kohima was reconstructed in 1946 again on the land provided through the goodwill of Kohima Village.
Elaborating on how the building had been used in the past, NC stated that the “NSF has been attempting to distort the distinguished principles and prudent policies of the Naga Club in toto by illegally encroaching the whole Naga Club Building when they were allotted only a part of Naga Club Building rooms, who then converted the Naga Club Building into a commercial establishment by illegally renting the building to businessmen and women who set up hotels, printing press, pan-shops in the said Naga Club Building today solely for their selfish commercial interest rather than promoting Naga brotherhood and unity.”
It maintained that the “demi order note dated April 4, 1918 allowed only ‘a part of the Naga Club rooms’ and not the whole building ‘on rental basis’ to the NSF then.”
“However, the NSF had not only encroached upon the whole building without authorization for its own commercial interest, but even though as a tenant had begun illegally sub-letting and renting, and also refused to vacate the building when the legitimate owner wants to reconstruct the dilapidated building. Such behavior of the NSF transcends all norms of grateful civility and decency of harmonious living. This commercial interest of NSF for selfish gain might have been the reason as to why they refused to have formal meetings with us till date in spite of so many requests and proposals since 2018,” it added.
Acknowledging how Kohima Village had been at the forefront during the formative years of Naga Club and its building not only by way of donating land but also through the vital roles played by its people in the sustenance of the Club and its building, the club felt “duty-bound to approach the Kohima Village Council with regard to the restoration of the Naga Club Building and the Land to its legitimate owner.”
Naga Club ‘beseech upon the Kohima Village Council to exercise its wisdom and traditional virtues in the matter that confronts the Naga Club today.’ It requested KVC to “consider the facts of history in its proper and rightful perspective and take necessary actions” deemed fit and proper in the restoration of the Naga Club property to NC so that it may be allowed to “rebuild the building to honor, protect, promote and preserve the illustrious legacy of our pioneer leaders and forefathers with a vision to promote Naga brotherhood and unity for the betterment of the Naga Society and for the interest of posterity.”
The letter to the KVC was signed by Naga Club, President Kuolachalie Seyie; Chairman Working Committee, Khriedi Theünuo; Vice Presidents Y Vandanshan Lotha, K John Lohe, Talitoba Ao, Visa Meru Zeliang; Secretary Working Committee, Dr Viketoulie Pienyü; Treasurer Hoshito Awomi; Secretaries K Gwanilo Himb and Thosiepa Katiry.
